Meet the new man in charge of policing in Hull

Chief Superintendent Phil Ward has been appointed as the new area commander for Hull and East Riding

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The new face in charge of policing in Hull and East Riding has pledged his commitment to neighbourhood policing.

Chief Superintendent Phil Ward has been appointed as the area commander for Hull and the East Riding in a new post introduced by Chief Constable Lee Freeman. He will now oversee all areas of operational policing for the north bank of the Humber.

"Community policing is the bedrock of everything, it really is," he said. "If you go back to Peelian principles, we have to be on the ground, we have to be engaged with all our different types of communities we have.

"We have to know what their needs and expectations are. Every single area in Hull and the East Riding is different, for example the needs of the community in north Hull is completely different to that of another area in the city."

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Chief Supt Ward is keen to capitalise on the force's latest recruitment drive, which will see an additional 215 constables on the beat by September 2018. Of the 215 new officers, around 130 will be based in Hull and East Yorkshire.

"This gives us some different opportunities about where we want to put people," the Chief Superintendent said.

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"It allows us to invest in different areas of policing. We can increase the number available for emergency responses, increase the number for community policing teams and we will be investing in the investigation team in CID.

"We have already seen an increase in the number of police officers we have got, mainly those on patrol.

"There has been increases across Hull and across the East Riding with additional officers now in Bridlington, Beverley and Goole.

"The difference we have seen is that we are improving our response times week on week how we are dealing with demand.

Picture of a Humberside police officer

"The public will have seen a difference in these areas already and we will continue to improve.

"The biggest indicator for the public will be the difference in the way our community teams engage. We recognise that one size does not fit all."

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A full-time superintendent is now in place in Beverley, while Chief Inspectors have also been based in Bridlington and Goole.

"This is so we know what's going on in different areas and so that staff have the right level of leadership and visibility," Chief Supt Ward said.

"My job is to do everything I can to make sure the resources, policies and skills are available in the right places.

Neighbourhood policing is crucial says Humberside Police's Area Commander for Hull and the East Riding

"Having staff that are engaged and knowing we value them is fundamental.

"I want to be far more visible, a point of access to the teams and make sure the senior leadership team are fully consulted and listen to what the staff want and need to make their jobs better and improve delivery."

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Having served with Humberside Police for nearly 19 years and also 'born and bred' in Hull, Chief Supt Ward is passionate about his job.

He said: "It is the most rewarding job in the world. It is challenging and some days can be extremely difficult, but how many have the opportunity every time they speak to someone to make a real difference to their lives?

"There is always the excitement of not knowing from one minute to the next what you are going to deal with.

"Some days you deal with some really awful situations and deal with people at the most awful times in their life. I have nothing but respect for our tremendous officers and Humberside is lucky to have these people."

Follow the new area commander on Twitter with the username @CSuptPhilWard